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Back Pain

Why do I have back pain?

It is estimated that 60-80% of the adult population will develop back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is therefore a common source of suffering, depression, disability, economic loss and narcotic addition in America today. This results in one out of six doctor visits for new back pain. Fortunately acute back pain usually resolves without treatment within 4 weeks. Back pain has been classified as primary or secondary.

The common primary causes are due to back muscle weakness, the facet joints, degenerative disk disease, disk herniation, spinal stenosis, spinal instability, spondylolisthesis, and vertebral body compression fractures. The secondary causes are outside the spine and include abdominal organs, aorta, heart, and lungs. Secondary back pain may also be caused by cancer (primary or metastatic) or infection (vertebral osteomyelitis or spinal epidural abscess).
Non-specific back pain makes up the majority of back pain and is not life threatening.

Most back pain is self-limiting and resolves over weeks to months, but doctors become concerned if the back pain occurs in the setting of cancer, unexplained weight loss, fever, immunosuppression (decreased immune system function such as HIV or AIDS), prolonged use of steroid medications, IV drug use, pain that is unrelieved with rest, significant body injury (fall or motor vehicle accident), weakness, or bowel and bladder incontinence or retention.

Degenerative Disk Disease

As we age our disks become dehydrated, the disk collapses in height, and often develop annular tears through the region of the disk called the annulus that has nerve endings. Patients often benefit from core strengthening. When this fails patients may benefit from burning of the annulus (endoscopic discectomy and annuloplasty) or removal of the disk and fusion or disk replacement.

Disc Herniation

The disk is composed of outer annulus and inner nucleus. Disk herniation is when the outer layer of the disk weakens and the nucleus squeezes out of the disk and pinches the nerve causing sciatica leg pain. The disk can be removed through a small same day procedure with a spinal endoscope called endoscopic discectomy.

Spinal Stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal due to thickened ligaments and bone spurs cause spinal stenosis. The lumbar nerves are pinched causing leg pain when walking called neurogenic claudication. Nerves in the neck can cause pain to radiate into the scapular area or into the arm. Spinal stenosis is very common and when conservative measures fail it is easily treated surgically.

Vertebral Compression Fracture

Minimal trauma to spinal vertebrae weakened by osteoporosis can cause vertebral body compression fractures. Pain results from compression of the fracture which is often worse when upright sitting, standing, or walking. Often the fracture can be supported with a brace. If this fails then consideration for the injection of bone cement into the fracture called vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.

Spinal Instability

Normal age related changes can cause degenerative spondylolisthesis, injury as a child often causes lytic spondylolisthesis, and trama can contribute to spinal instability. Spondylolisthesis refers to a misalignment of the spine. Core strengthening is usually the first step in treating back pain unless trauma is involved or severe neurologic problems are present such as a progressive neurologic deficit, weakness, or urinary and/or bowel incontinence.

" AMAZING!! I just had surgery the day before yesterday 7/9/18, & this surgeon Dr. Hanson & his team should be voted once again best surgeon in the U.S. When I thought I was at a dead end with this very bad spine of mine, no doctor cared in the least about how my back felt, the pain that I was taking in for 8 years of my life living on pain meds 6x a day. No Doctor here in Des Moines would even take me in for a appt. until I took off 25 to 30 lbs. Until 1 day I asked my hubbies hip Dr. to refer me to someone very quickly or I will end up in a wheelchair, Within1 week he referred me to Dr. Hanson at Minnesota Spine Institute, & thats where the beginning of my new journey to fix me started. I drove 4 hrs. to Minnesota & walked into his office in defensive mode scared to death that he would tell me I had to loose weight before he would see me like all the rest of the Dr.s, & immediately he picked my face up & told me to look at his face, his 1st response to my fear of rejection self was: "I want you to look at me, " This is not about what this doctor told you or that Dr. told you or your husband or family member told you, this is going to be about me & you only. I will treat you & I will fix you. And with that he did just that. We did some more testing & had my surgery 2 days ago & was up 1 hr. after walking down the hallways through my hotel & 2 days later have no pain only where incision was. He removed nerves from 3 Lumbars. This man is truly my miracle that I needed that will now change my life forever. Thank you Dr. Hanson & your team Jackie Frid & Melina. I hope you are proud as I am of you!!

I sustained a back injury while on the job. I met with Dr.Hanson and immediately knew that he understood my pain and frustrations. He’s a skilled surgeon who really cares. I had a micro discotomy in January 2018 and unfortunately, 3 weeks later, I had a large re-herniation. Dr. Hanson came to the hospital on a Saturday and preformed the emergency surgery. I appreciate the fact that Dr. Hanson personally calls and Text his patients to see how things are going.. I’m becoming the person and mother that I was before my injury. I recently got back on my kayak and it felt so good. To the staff at Minnesota spine institute and Dr.Hanson.. I thank you , my family thanks you!
Jessica Schmitz Page

In 2010, at 39 years old, I had two ruptured discs. The pain was indescribable. My local surgeon (Western WI area) had given me only 2 options; repair the discs or fuse those 2 levels. He gave me no other real guidance other than one was easier to recover from and neither were guaranteed success. I sat and cried by myself, ultimately choosing the 2-level spinal fusion in hopes that this would eliminate all of the horrible pain and I would finally be able to move forward.
While I recovered nicely and fairly quickly, a few years later I found myself with more and more pain, and despite my best efforts, it just continued to get worse... as in, I had very little quality of life anymore due to pain. By 2017 my friends and family were gently pushing me to seek help outside of our local area.
I found Dr. Hanson through a friend of mine whose husband had used MSI to have 2 cervical discs replaced, and he was doing quite well. After I made contact with the Minnesota Spinal Institute, Dr. Hanson called me directly to talk about my symptoms and what was going on. Never would I have expected the surgeon to call me directly, and by the end of that conversation I KNEW that I had FINALLY found someone who would help figure out where this pain was coming from. To directly quote him, "we just need to figure out where your pain generators are and fix them." I cried with relief when I got off that call! I had hope for the first time in YEARS. It was determined that my #1 pain generator was likely the hardware in my back (6 screws, 2 rods) and Dr. Hanson suggested removing all of it. I believe my body had been fighting that titanium for years, and I am now 10 weeks post-surgery and getting better slowly but surely.
Dr. Hanson has been very accessible both before and after surgery, and the word GRATEFUL does not begin to cover how I feel about MSI. I also need to mention that when my insurance provided denied my request for out-of-network service for MSI (and I was devastated), Dr. Hanson and his assistant, Jackie, worked above and beyond to secure me the very best self-pay rates for my surgery. Just like that, I was moving forward and had surgery 2 weeks later.
I've learned a lot of lessons through all of this: there ARE doctors and health care providers out there who listen; be your own advocate; ask for help; think outside the box of from the big medical institutions. And to Jackie... you probably have no idea who much of a life line you were for me in those weeks, but I thank you (and Dr. Hanson) from the bottom of my heart.

I had a micro-discectomy of L4-5 and haven’t felt this good in 2.5 years! I would give this place 1000 stars if it was a option!! Dr Hanson and Staff are truly Head and shoulders above the rest!! A+! Thank you again Jason!!

My son has been a patient of Dr. Hanson since 2016. Dr. Hanson is amazing. After having his back surgery he has finally been able to get some pain relief. Jackie is also wonderful to work with. I would recommend him to anyone struggle with back issues.

I suffered for over 4 months with lower back pain, it hurt to sit down, pain in my left leg. I seen a Chiropractor for months with no relief. I was being told by my GP and my Oncologist that my back pain was just "arthritis" or a side effect from my chemo,...Well guess what it wasn't!!
I reached out to Dr. Hanson @ MN Spine and thank god I did. Dr. Hanson is so Professional, Caring, Dr. Hanson and his team gave me awesome patient care. Dr. Hanson showed me my MRI showed me exactly where my pain was coming from and gave me several options of treatment. We discussed all options in detail, I choose to do L4/L5 Endoscopic Surgery. I had my surgery yesterday, today I feel good, just a little stiff, but I have NO PAIN!! Also Dr. Hanson gives you his own personal cell phone # he calls you personally to follow up with you ...what Dr. does that, No Dr. I'v ever had.
Gotta give a extra "Thank You" to his Anesthesia staff they really went above and beyond for me.

10 months of terrible pain solved in a single day. I'm a 24 year old who should not be dealing with spine issues! I did everything by the books, was given medicine, got an injection, did physical therapy, everything nothing helped the agony in my lower back and leg. I could barely walk, and spent tons of money taking cabs because I couldn't sit on the bus to get to work for too long. And sleep was impossible.
I had a herniated disc pressed into my sciatic nerve and surgery was the only thing left to consider. Dr. Hanson is a brilliant mind who wasted no time in telling us what he thought was going on in that my disc was contained and needed help being removed to put pressure off of the nerve. he explained the procedure and took time to answer any questions me or my mother had.
Surgery was a breeze. It's hard for me to even believe it happened because it was such a walk in the park! I'm up and walking around normally, I was even the night of the procedure! Dr. Hanson has truly given me my life back and I couldn't be more thankful. Not to mention he's so personable with his clients, he even shared his phone number so we could talk about any questions or concerns I have!
Thank you Dr. Hanson! :) I'm finally living my own life again!!

I am 61 years old, and for 5 years, dealt with low back pain and impingement of nerves down my right leg, and through prior consults, non invasive procedures could not fix the problem. I reviewed board certified orthopedic spine surgeons and chose Dr. Dan Hanson. He was compassionate, listened to my goals, and analyzed my back problem . He has impeccable skills in spacial relations (3D overview of my spine issues), and was the only Physician that came up with a way to fuse L3-L4 and decompress the nerve impingment to my right leg with incisions only in the back. The other two consults said I would not only need back surgery, but they would also have to open my abdomen to repair the problems. It has been six months post-op now, and I have no pain!!! I am out gardening and biking everyday. I just have to remember to do some core strength exercises Dr. Hanson gave to me, so I do not put as much strain on my back doing the things I love. Thank you, Dr. Hanson, and to all of your team!

After months (nearly a year) of dealing with my local (Western Wisconsin) medical facilities it was determined I had (2) badly worn discs. The only offer I could get from a local surgeon was 2 level fusion.
At 45 years old and in good health, I didn't believe fusion was the best option for my situation.
I managed to track down Dr. Hanson at Minnesota Spine Institute via the recommendation of my chiropractor. I met with Dr. Hanson and he agreed that fusion wasn't the best option for me.
2 weeks later Dr. Hanson installed (2) Mobi-C artificial discs. The follow up and personal contact I received from MSI was second to none. They checked on me regularly and made sure I was doing well. Fortunately the surgery went so well all I ever had to report was "Doing great, just need a little more time to heal".
I am now 1 month post op and feeling better today than I have in a LONG time.
If you are frustrated with your medical care and want a solution, go see Dr. Hanson. He is most interested in fixing your issues not billing your insurance company for care you don't need and delays that don't fix your issue!